"In thinking about our day we may face indecision. We may not be able to determine which course to take. Here we ask God for INSPIRATION, an intuitive thought or decision. We relax and take it easy. We don't struggle. We are often surprised how the right answers come after we have tried this for a while.
What used to be the hunch or the occasional INSPIRATION gradually becomes a working part of the mind. Being still inexperienced and having just made conscious contact with God, it is not probable that we are going to be inspired at all times. We might pay for this presumption in all sorts of absurd actions and ideas. Nevertheless, we find that our thinking will, as time passes, be more and more on the plane of INSPIRATION. We come to rely upon it."
It is in conscious contact with God that INSPIRATION may be received. It is where a recovered alcoholic lives.
INSPIRATION is defined in the dictionary as, "the thoughts of God implanted in the mind and soul of man." When the thoughts of God are received in our souls we don't need to run them by our intellect, as we know immediately that they are the Truth. The question becomes, has our human nature surrendered to the will of God in this moment so that we are capable of receiving God's thoughts OR are our thought processes propelled by our human instinct? A recovered alcoholic lives in and through INSPIRATION as their thought process is propelled by the will of God.
Written by Armand
Armand,
ReplyDelete"Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our "conscious" contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out... Although many of us in the rooms of AA fail to recognize it at first, the introduction to Step 11 is encountered in all of it's fullness at the end of every AA meeting when we recite The Lords Prayer. Even the most cursory attempt at contemplation upon these divinely delivered words begins to reveal the true mind, heart and will of an eternal God who's greatest desire is for our complete redemption as many of us, for the first time in our lives, humbly acknowledge His position, present our petition and agreement with His plan.
It is no coincidence that when we join hands and pray in that corporate way that an indescribable peace seems to wash over the room. In that moment, all of our challenges doubts and fears fade to the background as His Spirit walks amongst us and for that brief moment all of the clamor and clutter that inhabits and inhibits our lives looses its steely grip if our minds are focused solely on the Master. He continues to gently beckon us to seek out His inspiration through prayerful meditation on His Person and His Word. He delights and grows a constant prayerful conversation that, if we are willing, ever so subtly begins to posses every waking moment. Until, one day at a time, we eventually discover our very lives have become not our prayer, but His...
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholi
A Gratefully Recovering Alcoholic day at a time until we meet Him face to face...Thank you...Armand
DeleteIf I’ve learned one inherent truth from the Big Book program of recovery. It is that when I’m living “in spiritu”, I am living an inspired life - a life I was meant to live. Paradoxically, in my search for the spirit of me, I turned to bottled spirits. “Spiritus contra spiritum” is the phrase used by Carl Jung - spirit against spirit. There is no question that, for me, the delivery system for inspiration is the full integration of The Twelve Steps into my life in such a way that my spirit is awakened. I know what inspiration feels like. It is the certainty of the presence of The Power Within me. It is the antithesis of the uninspired and powerless life that led me to alcohol. I am free and I am free to be me.
ReplyDeleteMichael C
Michael the freedom of an Inspired life us wonderful...Thank you...Armand
DeleteIs wonderful
ReplyDeleteArmand, That is a Super Great Post. Spot on Instructions on How to Live a God Guided Life. Working with God daily to set out the DAY'S MARCH. Thanks, John
ReplyDeleteJohn Thanks for your comment. A life guided by god is the only way for us...Armand
ReplyDelete